a few of my friends and i are planning to road trip to most of the ballparks this summer and next. i was wondering which one are really good architecture wise, vantage points, food, etc. last summer we went to Cincinnati's Great American BP, PNC Park, and Citizens Bank in Philly. Great American was my favorite just because of it was a beautiful scene to watch a game, great venue

"i've been gettin G-ed up since i came out the hospital as a baby. i didn't wear pampers, i wore some slacks and some gators on the way home.""in order for us to grow u gotta know, in order to love the brotherman, u gotta know the otherman. because one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. knick knack paddy wack, give the dog a bone." - Delonte West

I really like Citizens Bank Park in Philly. I lived in Philly for 3 years and I've seen probably a dozen or so games there. One thing I strongly dislike about their park though is how far it is away from everything (bars, eateries, downtown, etc.) But just going off the park itself I'd say Citizens Bank.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards is also a real good park. I saw Rafael Palmeiro's last game before his positive steroid test (he played a couple more after his suspension). I had heard on ESPN earlier in the week that they were scheduled to do a Rafael Palmeiro Appreciation day in mid-August, so I was surprised when they ran a video montage to him between innings of the July 31st game we were at. The next day I flip on ESPNews and they'd just announced he'd tested positive.

A friend of mine who's been to every stadium says PNC in pittsburgh is the best he's been to.

"And three of the better guys in franchise history, Daugherty, Z and now Kyrie could get hurt in a rubber room full of cotton balls." - Leadpipe

As much as I hate everything Pittsburgh, PNC is a beauty. I went there in '03- the game had just about everything,Fiday night, 2 rain delays, 14 innings. Everybody played, CC with a pinch-hit infield single, BA ran for him Randall Simon with a walk-off home run. But the ballpark is great- we sat, up until extra innings, in the upper deck, behind home plate (my personal favorite place to sit). The view of the city is perfect, probably the highlight, the architecture is pretty cool as well. Down side- the home product is AAAA and there are inbred in the stands, wearing more Steelers gear than Pirates- this was in '03, before Big Ben and their title run, just imagine what it is now. They are quick with their "Browns suck" quotes when they noticed myself and my wife's Tribe gear and when the Tribe scored. The upgrade from Three Rivers to PNC is just, if not more of an upgrade from Municipal to the Jake.

Others that I have enjoyed, besides Jacobs Field- Tiger, Fenway and Yankee all for their histories, even as a Yankee hater, I was impressed and in awe of Monument Park. Tiger was a bit odd, but cool nonetheless.

Jacobs Field is certainly my favorite park. If you combine location (downtown), architecture, and team performance, it might be the best park in the bigs. It doesn’t have to much nostalgia, but no new park does. Some newer parks have easier ways to walk around the stadium and still see the game and have more/better places to stand and watch the game.

PNC is prolly the other best park I’ve been to.I was surprised by the Ballpark in Arlington. It’s actually a pretty nice park. It’s in the middle of nowhere, though. And it was like watching a ballgame from inside an oven.

Citizens was ok. It was laid out better than St. Louis’. It’s also way out from downtown.Anaheim was surprising. It was an ok park, just in the middle of nowhere. Shea was surprisingly not horrible. Way out and no shade so it would be miserable on a sunny day. But not horrible.

Of Fenway, Yankee Stadium and Wrigley, I’d rate them: Old Tiger Stadium, Wrigley, Fenway and Yankee Stadium last. If it wasn’t YANKEE STADIUM it would be a dump. It reminded me of the lake front stadium (with good cause).Really liked Tiger Stadium. I don’t like the new park, and really think they went backwards.

New Comisky was better and worse than I thought it would be. Looked cool from far away. Looked like a parking garage up close. Was an ok place to watch a game, but we weren’t able to walk around at all.

Tribegrl85 wrote:Kaufmann Stadium is a great older park. I wish I could go when they finish the renovations. The fountains were really cool, but the are adding bleacher seats for the first time.

Visited Kaufman for a late August game, sat through a severe electrical storm delay that rolled away into sky in left field for final 3 innings. It was amazing. Highly under-noted stadium, especially if you like royal blue and green like I do.

I've only been to a few, but I would add or ask about the knowledge of the fans of the home team, when visiting these ballparks. I hate to admit, that Fenway had the most interesting and knowledgeable spectators to share the game with. There was great strategy discussion between rows, and some real interesting arguments. Maybe it was the weekend, I was there, but it was one aspect that really stuck out for me, added to the overall experience of attending a game there.

Camden Yards is actually pretty nice. One of the first "throwback" parks, its in one of the few good areas of Baltimore, and they let you bring food in from the outside which is nice. My first time there, I brought in 2 sausage sandwitches, a burger and a giant pretzel from the vendors off the street. Got a little carried away, sure, but I probably saved myself $30 from what it would have cost inside.

Park itself has good sightlines. I have been in about 6 different seats over the past few years, none of them bad.

Jake is still my favorite of course, but Camden isn't bad.

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Let me tell you, if any of you douchebag empty headed stuffed suit nanny politicians tries to fuck with my bacon, I’m going after you like a crazed chimpanzee on bath salts. -----Lars

WarAdmiral wrote:I've only been to a few, but I would add or ask about the knowledge of the fans of the home team, when visiting these ballparks. I hate to admit, that Fenway had the most interesting and knowledgeable spectators to share the game with. There was great strategy discussion between rows, and some real interesting arguments. Maybe it was the weekend, I was there, but it was one aspect that really stuck out for me, added to the overall experience of attending a game there.

Was it a weeknight game? I was there on a weekend last year...nothing but Massholes.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves-----Abe Lincoln

Let me tell you, if any of you douchebag empty headed stuffed suit nanny politicians tries to fuck with my bacon, I’m going after you like a crazed chimpanzee on bath salts. -----Lars

I've only been to four, including Cleveland. The Jake will always be my fav but of the other three Fenway Park was easily the best. The place still smelled like 1920s grease and cigar smoke. It was awesome. The Fenway Frank was pretty lame though (it was hyped-up to me)...

The other parks I went to were Enron (er, Tropicana) Field in Houston (twice) and I was in Atlanta at a Braves game last year. It reminded me of a taller Jake. Nice park.

FWIW, I went to a Hawks/Cavs game in Atlanta and saw a Celtics/Bucks game at Whatever The Hell Bank Garden in Boston. That's it...

PNC is a beautiful ballpark, but most of the time, it's a mausoleum.But as far as "away" parks go, best experience in watching a game was at Busch Stadium during the time McGwire was on a homerun binge. The crowd, from inning one to inning nine was into the game, best fan support I have seen.

"It's all about winning for me, and I think the Cavs are committed to doing that," he said. "But at the same time I've given myself options to this point, and like I said before, me and my team, we have a game plan that we're going to execute, and we'll see what we get."

WarAdmiral wrote:I've only been to a few, but I would add or ask about the knowledge of the fans of the home team, when visiting these ballparks. I hate to admit, that Fenway had the most interesting and knowledgeable spectators to share the game with. There was great strategy discussion between rows, and some real interesting arguments. Maybe it was the weekend, I was there, but it was one aspect that really stuck out for me, added to the overall experience of attending a game there.

Was it a weeknight game? I was there on a weekend last year...nothing but Massholes.

It was over 10 years ago. Damn time flies. Looking back, it was during the week.

We take The Jake for granted. It really has it all. The feel of the old ballparks with the amenities of the new ones.

Outside of it, PNC and Kauffman are great. I'm glad someone else mentioned Kauffman. If you have a chance, go see a game there. It's like this wonderful little piece of heaven that nobody knows about. It feels like a minor league ballpark...but in a good way. And you're watching major league baseball...at least from the team the Royals are playing.

With the upgrades, Kauffman is my second favorite. PNC would probably be the best if it didn't have that "sitting in a funeral parlor" feel.

Turner Field was awesome. And their massive HD video screen is something to see.

PNC is nice. Small and cozy, right on the river and has a great view of the city. But the concourses are tiny, even though barely anybody goes to games it's still crowded (at least that's what I remember from being there in '03)

I didn't mind Tropicana Field, either. I didn't think it was that bad. At least it's a baseball dome, and not a multi-sport venue like the Metrodome. It pretty much feels like a regular baseball stadium with a roof on top instead of a regular dome.

Last summer visited the Nationals ballpark, the Phillies ballpark and Camden Yards. I used to live near Baltimore and so I went to Camden quite a bit, love the place and I just have to say, hands down it is the best ballpark I've been to so far.

Tribe Fan since 1995!

And...

Remember, fans, Tuesday is Die Hard Night. Free admission for anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won the pennant.

I have been to Progressive Field (of course, my fav), Wrigley (tradition and atmosphere is great), Camden Yards (beautiful park- not a big fan of the city of Baltimore), new park in St. Louis (very nice- they were just starting to build the restaurants around it), Nats stadium (beautiful! I agree with Swerb about the restaurant in CF- loved the presidential race with Teddy, etc. also. Also got to see David Gregory, NBC correspondant at a game. They also have A/C concourse-which was great. Very nice ushers as well, great view of Capital in the background!), Citizens Bank (nice, loved the Liberty Bell that swings during HR's- only got to see one tho!) and Dodger Stadium (loved the view "Go Blue" !! Dodger dogs were great! And loved the pictures of the players on the outside of the stadium walls)

The Jake is a great stadium, my favorite of the ballparks in existance right now. Just wish we would have set it up so more bars & restaurants surrounded it like Columbus did with Nationwide Arena.

As much as it pains me to say it, I liked PNC as well. Beautiful set up, good location/view, and is smaller than most parks I have seen. They did a nice job capturing the charm & feel of the old ballparks while giving the modern amenities.

Camden Yards was nice and the whole market set up they have on the street behind the outfield stands is just great.

Great American is nice and the view of the Ohio River and KY is great. Really, really high and steep upper deck though. And you absolutely fry in the summertime.

Comerica is too big and just feels detached from the game. Same with Skydome. They are okay but something is definitely missing there.

The worst big league stadium I visited was Veterans Stadium in Philly. It was like sitting in a dog bowl. No charm, no breeze, dirty and cramped. I wasnt a fan at all.

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

Dodger Stadium- great views all around the stadium, but the San Gabriel Mountains behind the outfield pavillion is just a perfect fit. Weather is usually awesome unless its too hot. Dodger Dogs are the bomb. Simple, but a great setting, and my favorite.

jack_tors wrote:The Jake is a great stadium, my favorite of the ballparks in existance right now. Just wish we would have set it up so more bars & restaurants surrounded it like Columbus did with Nationwide Arena.

jack_tors wrote:Great American is nice and the view of the Ohio River and KY is great. Really, really high and steep upper deck though. And you absolutely fry in the summertime.

Great American is beautiful but ya we went to a noon game on the hottest day of the summer and got absolutely baked. it was triple digits by the third inning, thank God for the spray zone, a life saver

"i've been gettin G-ed up since i came out the hospital as a baby. i didn't wear pampers, i wore some slacks and some gators on the way home.""in order for us to grow u gotta know, in order to love the brotherman, u gotta know the otherman. because one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. knick knack paddy wack, give the dog a bone." - Delonte West

My goal is to make it to every stadium in MLB, and I'm over halfway there. When I go, I really try to be objective because of course I'd rather be in Cleveland watching a game than anywhere because my Tribe plays there. Objectively though, here are my opinions...

There is NO doubt in my mind that for the complete baseball experience, you will never beat Wrigley. It's amazing, and the purist in me loved sitting in the bleachers on a day game, eating Wrigley dogs and soaking in the tradition. I've been to Fenway, old Yankee Stadium, old Tiger Stadium, and others but Wrigley stands alone.

Of the new parks that I have been to, the top three (in order) are the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Camden Yards, and Jacobs Field. They are beautiful, have great sight lines, knowledgeable fans who actually wear team gear to the park, and a great combination of new perks while keeping the traditions of the game alive. The not goes to Busch for some awesome little quirks. They built part of the stadium over top of the old stadium site, and have lines in various places in the park telling you exactly what part of the old stadium you would be standing in. They also have a store that sells pieces of the game from both stadiums...old used bases, pieces of the wall, scoreboard numbers, etc. Another cool thing is they kept the two scoreboards from the last game at old Busch and they are hanging in the concourse. I love cities that acknowledge that tradition is a huge part of baseball.

Other parks that are in the top ten are Houston, Atlanta and Texas.

Parks that were disappointing were the Nats' new stadium in DC (they promised great views of the city, what you actually look at is the parking garage and construction of a new planned downtown community that's going up by the river) and PNC park in Pittsburgh (WAY too many coffee stands, Outback Steakhouses, etc. that completely took away from the ballpark feel) although I did catch a ball there so that was fun.

Coors field has kind of a cool thing...there is a row of purple seats (most of theirs are green) at the spot that is exactly a mile high. I like personal touches like this. Also, in Seattle, there is a stand that always serves the food specialty of the visiting team. (Cheesesteaks when Philly is in town, crabcakes for the O's, etc.) Another cool local quirk is in Baltimore...Boog Powell is often in the area behind the outfield, serving his own joint's ribs. Can't beat that service!

One other thing I have tried to do is mix in some opening day trips. I love to see the party that a city throws on Opening Day. I've been to Cleveland many times, St. Louis, Texas, Houston, Seattle, Cincinnati, Baltimore and DC. Of those cities, three actually throw street parties and have cool specials in local bars, activities downtown, etc. and they are St. Louis, Cleveland and Baltimore. Very fun experiences!

Fenway was hands down the best atmosphere, The Jake is a close second.....but the history at Fenway and the Nostalgia was awesome...I went to a few games in '96 when the tribe was in town there (I was playing in the Cape Cod summer league-our team owner gave me tickets a few times)...The red seat in right field where Ted Williams hit the longball was so neat!

1. Camden Yards- great location, great ballpark. The first new generation stadium and still the best.

2. Wrigley Field- location, location, location. Being in the middle of a neighborhood gave the ballpark such a wonderful feel. One of the best atmospheres I have ever been in at a game, and this was back when the Cubs sucked.

3. Progressive Field- seeing it while driving into downtown is always a treat. Great sightlines. Nestled in nicely to the gateway to the city.

4. PNC- Gorgeous ballpark, great location. Far and away the nicest ushers I have ever dealt with in a ballpark. If only the Pirates weren't a joke.

Honorable mention- old Tigers Stadium. I only saw it at the end, when it was a dump in the middle of a bad neighborhood. That place had to be awesome back in its' day, though- the centerpiece of the area. Man, the potential that site had even up until the end. Kind of a travesty that the Tigers didn't try to mimick that stadium in any way.

Municipal StadiumThe JakeRiverFrontPNCTiger StadiumSheaCambden YardsNew ComiskeyWrigleyKaufmannMinute MaidSF (Can't keep up with what it's called today)Bank One (see above)Nationals ParkTurner Field

The Jake is outstanding. Agree with Washington's new place as well as Cambden, PNC and Kaufmann. I really like Minute Maid park. I saw an open air game there one night and it was quirky but beautiful. And incorporating Union Station was a cool idea too.

Most visually appealing is SF. Just beautiful as far as sight lines and backdrop.

Hated Shea and New Comiskey and Bank One felt like watching a ballgame inside a Ford plant.

Comerica Park: Horrible! I hated it there and Ive been to like 4 games there. Parking was hard for us there. The seats were too steep. The main giftshop was on like the 3rd level at the time... they may have changed that like everything else in the park.

Cinergy Field: Thank God they got rid of that peace of junk. We got so lost on how to get to it that we went back and forth into Kentucky 3-4 times.

I've only gone to The Jake and Rogers Centre, while my brother went to both that and Yankees Stadium during the final season. I've always wanted to see a game in Pittsburgh and Kansas City, hell anywhere.

Rogers Centre is pretty nice, but viewing wise, it's mizz. I went to two games in Toronto, one sitting up in the 500s (which, for the record, is really fucking far), and a Indians-Blue Jays game in 2006 in the outfield. The stadium itself is nice and clean, and the ushers aren't dicks there. But unless the dome is open, you don't get to see the Toronto skyline.

Cleveland, well, you guys know what it is. It's brilliant.

Though I've gone to a bunch of Buffalo Bisons games at Dunn Tire (now Coca Cola) park. Very nice ballpark and sitting on top section at home plate is the best view around.

Stu wrote:oh and comerica sucks... what a piece of garbage stadium that is. forget about feeling close to the action. just stay home and watch it on tv folks.

I'm going to PNC this year, and hopefully the Trop in Tampa, so I might get a smorgasbord of the good and bad.

I've been to Turner Field twice, which is a solid place to see a game, but not really comfortable walking distance from the hot spots in downtown Atlanta. But that's why they make shuttles. Atlanta fans get a bum rap for being wishy-washy and not very knowledgeable, but they're passionate about the Braves.

I've also been to Comerica. It's a nice park in and of itself, lots of bells and whistles, but the game experiences I've had haven't been that great. Parking is a nightmare. $20 to park anywhere reasonably close, and most of the parking is contained in randomly-placed lots around that section of downtown Detroit. I've been aggressively panhandled in both Atlanta and Detroit, but it happens way more often in Detroit. If you park at any of the bars west of I-75, you do so at your own risk, because the instant you cross west of 75, Detroit becomes seriously scary ghetto. And that's during afternoon games when you're walking back to your car in broad daylight. I've never been to a night game at Comerica, nor do I want to.

The game atmosphere is OK, but I've been there for a couple of games on summer Sundays, and the number of obnoxious drunks is very noticeable. I went to a game with a large group last year, and one of the girls in our group was constantly hit on by this drunk slob in a "Tapout" shirt for most of the first six innings. Then the other guys in his group started throwing things around at other spectators, like bits of ice and stuff. Security eventually had to yank them out of the seating bowl and line them up, police-style, in the concourse tunnel.

Three years ago, I went to a Indians-Tigers game in a Tribe T-shirt and hat. This was '06 when the Tigers were good for the first time in decades and the Indians weren't so good, so I expected a certain amount of razzing. But this tatted-up guy sitting four rows ahead of me just kept taunting me and taunting me to the point where it became harassment. I just left the seating bowl because, quite frankly, it was a 90-degree day and I didn't feel like getting security involved.

That's the other thing about Comerica. The upper deck is a frying pan on summer days. Absolutely no shade.

Wrigley is probably my favorite, along with the Jake. Sitting in the upper deck of the old Tiger Stadium was fun too. GABP in Cincy is nice. Don't really like the new Comiskey. Never made it to Yankee Stadium unfortunately.

As for me, I completely agree with the Fenway comments; I live about an hour and a half south, and the ballpark is a real joy to go to. My only beef is with the parking/travel....you basically have to take a second mortgage to afford parking or walk 20 minutes. This is one of the reasons I love the jake....2.50$ ride to tower city, and then walk. It's cheap, it's fast, it's indoors and it's fun. EVERY CITY SHOULD HAVE THIS.

Old yankee stadium was fun for the history, NYS for the hubris. Chavez Ravine was old but had pretty good fans (when I was there) The Vet was neat because it was like watching games in a bowl; completely circled in. Citizen's bank is a really well made park and is very enjoyable....+1 on the comment about it being too far away. They really segregate their sports complex down there.

I need to get down to Camden this summer, i've heard really good things about it.

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A couple of buddies and I did a road trip corss country in college and a saw a bunch of parks along the way. Here's the ones we saw:

Oakland-remind me of Muni, not in a good wayPac Bell/Monster PArk- Awesome stadium, one of my favs.Dodger Stadium- Meh.It's true about Dodger fans, though, show up in thw 3rd and leave in the 7thBankOne/Dbacks-Not bad, nice dome b/c you can't play ball in 100 degree heatCoors Field- Vastly underrated in my opinion, really nice park, easy to get to, and good sceneKaufman Stadium- UghWrigley- Awesome scene, good interaction with Cubs fans. If you go, try to make a Wednesday afternoon day game, absolute blastOld Milwaukee County Stadium- What was cool was it was "Take your photo on the field with the players" and I got a photo of me and Richie Sexson right after he was traded, he looked like he cried a little when he saw my Tibe hatComerica- Awful. Too much other crap going on and way too cavenrous

I'm going to Seattle this summer, and hoping to see Safeco, heard good things.

Since I live in Boston, I've gone to Fenway several times and I think everyone should see it once for the history. But the damn thing is so old, it's like perfume on a pig at this point. And Sox fans can be freakin' obnoxious.

All my friends who have been to the Jake rate it as one of there favorite parks.

Gradysmanldy wrote:This is one of the reasons I love the jake....2.50$ ride to tower city, and then walk. It's cheap, it's fast, it's indoors and it's fun. EVERY CITY SHOULD HAVE THIS.

Agreed. You can get on Cleveland's leaders and former leaders for a lot of things, but the way they integrated the ballpark and arena into the surrounding downtown area is among the best setups in the nation. The walkway from Tower City is a stroke of genius. It's even better for Cavs games when it's 10 degrees and icy. You can walk from your car to The Q and never set foot outside.

Peeker643 wrote:Hated Shea and New Comiskey and Bank One felt like watching a ballgame inside a Ford plant.

No better food anywhere than at "The Jane", though Peeks. (This despite offering only yellow mustard.)

"At least the Scots didn't have to tune in with the rest of the country and watch their women get plowed by Longshanks and his men."~Commodore Perry on the difference between baseball's flawed economics : Indians :: prima nocta : Scots

I've been to a few other than the Jake. The Jake is still hands-down the best gameday experience of anywhere I've been -- great fans, lots of energy, etc.

Comerica Park -- I went to college in Michigan, and we always had $10-15 game deals (ticket, bus trip over and back, food) in the early 2000s, when the Tigers blew. Nice stadium, though to me it seems a lot like they tried to rip off the design of the Jake. Not in a great area of town, as others have mentioned. Nothing too special about the stadium, in my opinion.

Coors Field -- Same things that others have had to say about it in this thread. The exterior of the stadium is something else, too. Very cool.

Safeco Field -- Pretty cool stadium. The roof is something to see, completely silent when they close it during the game. It doesn't keep out the cold, though. Went on opening day last year and there was snow blowing in. Most areas of the ballpark give you a sweet view of the Seattle skyline. In a pretty good area of town, public transportation is easy to use. The food is good. Red Hook beer on tap, you can get sushi, and the famous garlic fries from Kidd Valley (though it does make the place stink). Always the benefit of the surrounding city -- mountains, water, good nightlife. Great place to spend a few days. Also, pretty funny that there are usually a lot of Asian visitors in for the game and they go crazy for Ichiro...screaming his name, camera flashes everytime he's at the plate.

Peeker643 wrote:Hated Shea and New Comiskey and Bank One felt like watching a ballgame inside a Ford plant.

No better food anywhere than at "The Jane", though Peeks. (This despite offering only yellow mustard.)

WRONG! go to PNC and eat Primanti Brothers at the park. it will change your life

"i've been gettin G-ed up since i came out the hospital as a baby. i didn't wear pampers, i wore some slacks and some gators on the way home.""in order for us to grow u gotta know, in order to love the brotherman, u gotta know the otherman. because one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. knick knack paddy wack, give the dog a bone." - Delonte West